Norwich City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0

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Ratings submitted so far: 13

Brendan Clegg:

Pretty livid after that one. That’s probably the most annoying one of the season. To contrive to lose it after Norwich were so so bad… beggars belief really but the signs were there.

The starting lineup was what it was - if we had internationals and injuries then fair enough. It should have been good enough.

The first 20 mins were pretty good. We were dominating it and aggressive. We nearly took the lead. But then the first time Norwich attacked us Wildsmith came to the rescue in a one versus one. It was pretty obvious we’d need two goals to win.

I found the rest of the half massively frustrating. We still controlled most of it but our quality and our bravery in the final third were lacking.

I personally found the roles of Swift and Molumby most frustrating… the wrong way around. Molumby attacking the most with energy and fight but without an ounce of threat or creativity… Swift deep and keeping the ball with safe passes but jogging around, no left foot at all so readable, ostensibly nice on the eye but with no desire to pass it and then sprint ten yards to be advanced.

On top of that, Armstrong getting frustrated and coming really deep to play nothing passes.

We penned them in but nothing to show for it and no real threat.

Second half was exactly the same. So on top but no danger created. I thought Norwich got away with persistent fouls on Fellows and no booking. We didn’t look in trouble but there were few ideas.

It was crying out for change but Mowbray left it late and, when he did, I thought it was all wrong.

I’d have dropped Molumby back with Mowatt and but MJ on through the centre in a 10 for Swift. Someone capable of going past people or shooting in an area to cause chaos. Give that 15 minutes and if it wasn’t working go two up top and played someone up with Armstrong. There’s just absolutely no way at I’d have taken Fellows off.

We seem obsessed with controlling games at all cost, when it might be better to sacrifice the control of possession for having threat and firepower in the right areas, and opening games up a bit to trade blows.

As it was the subs left us short - Grady and MJ on the wings (inverted, and therefore never going to get to the byline and cross) with Lankshear up top (a target man) and an eager but nowhere near up to speed Bany chasing stuff.

Swift waited until the 93rd minute to play a brave pass, hit one that was never on while we had everyone in their half and Norwich suckered us on the break with neither Holgate or Bartley covering themselves in glory running back.

We still had a chance to level with Bartley forcing a save and Grady somehow not putting the rebound in from 3 yards with a weak header.

It’ll take a while to calm down. The league is hopeless as proven by us being top 6 in April having only won 13 games! BUT I maintain if we can just pull some results together and get our best 11 on the pitch in a system that works, this squad is packed with danger for the sides around and above us… easily capable of winning the playoffs.

We’re in danger of blowing it though which would be an awful failure. Mowbray is showing a pig-headed arrogance in thinking he can be the one to get a tune out of certain players who have let us down over 2 or 3 years, and who frankly have only ever been hit and miss players in their careers elsewhere. His misplaced faith will cost him his job.

• Wildsmith - 6 big save at nil nil, did okay
• Holgate - 6 I thought he had a sound enough game up to their goal
• Bartley - 6 Ditto
• Heggem - 7 Solid. Had he been covering themselves other side I doubt they’d have scored
• Styles - 7 Gave everything and played with energy, passion and tempo
• Mowatt - 7 I thought he did his own job really well and dominated the ball but he needed better quality ahead of him
• Swift - 4 Kept it nicely but zero cutting edge or urgency and didn’t break a sweat. Awful pass at the end cost us.
• Fellows - 6 Had the beating of his man but we often didn’t play him in early enough
• Mulumby - 5 Loads of energy but a headless chicken in that role. Squandered good situations through poor quality and when he’s doing Zidane turns to nowhere you know it’s a problem
• Grant - 6 Had a right go. Short on quality but at least took on responsibility to shoot and grafted away
• Armstrong - 5 dropped deep to nowhere, didn’t have a shot, not sure how we’ve got this so wrong

• MJ - 5 tried but too late, got a great cross in
• Grady - 5 a couple of decent spins in the middle but there was nothing on and no pace to hit
• Lankshear - 5 little service
• Bany - 4 Looked eager but nowhere near ready

I’ve been blown away by your support for me running the Shakespeare marathon for Black Country Women’s Aid:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/brendan-clegg-2